The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE presentation of the IAAF World Relays plays to the marketing of the event as an entertainment production and not just an athletics meet. To that end, the IAAF recently conducted another site visit in the capital, with just under two months of preparation remaining.

The contingent was led by Dr Ernest Obeng, director of broadcasting for the IAAF. “This event last year really captured the imagination of the broadcast audience of fans worldwide and not just fans of athletics,” he said.“This year in 2015 we started our preparations early and we hope that that will improve on the event coverage, distribution and exposure and quality.”

Dr Obeng and his team made early outlines with respect to the broadcast logistics. “At this moment we are studying the various angles of the camera shots and determining where they are going to be located,” he said. “When you look at it, the host broadcaster along with our partners Cannon and Seiko need cameras on the finish line, so that we could proceed a good photo finish and a good finish for television. So, we are expecting great coverage once again.”

The production of the event received international acclaim when it was honoured with an award at the Sportel Convention, hosted in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The World Relays broadcast was awarded the Golden Podium award for Ted Ayling’s slow motion clip of a baton exchange by the American men’s 4x100m relay team.

The award is doled out by the International Olympic Committee for the entrant best conveying Olympic values.

Mike Sands, vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee, said the production was one of the aspects of the inaugural event which set the bar high for 2015.

“We are in full operations mode and working very assiduously to meet whatever deadline is upon us in an effort to make sure this event meets the expectations of spectators, fans and athletes alike,” he said. “We have been working closely with the IAAF and there have been numerous site visits in this regard. It is to ensure that we continue on the trajectory in a timely manner. The Bahamas was able to bring it all together as entertainment. It was just an entire event presentation. It was experimental and it worked beyond everyone’s expectations. Thanks to the IAAF and their innovation, now that expectation is there for us to continue raising the bar.”

The IAAF World Relays is all set for May 2-3 at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

According to Sands, over 41 countries and 1,000 athletes have already declared their intention to compete.

“We are pleased with the way things went in 2014 and planning on making it bigger and better,” said  Keith Parker, chairman of the LOC. “The event was televised in 161 countries last year, which created tremendous publicity for the Bahamas. The event was entertainment as well as track and field.